Statement by H.E. Ambassdor Wu Haitao at the General Debate of the High-Level Segment of the Economic and Social Council Substantive Session 2013

2013/07/03

Mr. President, Dear delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Chinese Delegation endorses the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General regarding creating a favourable environment for science, technology, innovation and culture. We are also in favour of harnessing science, technology, innovation and culture as a means to promote sustainable development.

At present, the world economy is at a stage of in-depth adjustment and is struggling in its recovery. The international financial sector still faces various risks. Different forms of protectionism are on the rise; the global unemployment rate remains high. All countries face many difficulties in their economic structural adjustments. The external development environment for the developing countries in particular, does not inspire optimism. The international community should fully leverage the role played by UNSCTD and UNESCO and should adhere to the "Rio Principles", in particular the Principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" in formulating the post 2015 international development agenda.We hope that this session will forge consensus and play its unique role in promoting inclusive development and economic recovery. We would like to make the following recommendations.

1. Science, technology, innovation and some key cultural elements should be integrated into the framework of sustainable development goals. The dissemination and application of scientific and technological innovation should be the number one engine for promoting the sustainable development of human society, as well as the necessary means to fundamentally resolve the conflict between economic development and environmental protection. We should search for new sustainable development paths through fostering a conducive environmental for innovation, dissemination and application of scientific and technological innovation. Diverse and inclusive cultural elements can not only bridge our differences, but also form an important economic sector, which, in turn, can promote economic development, social inclusion and create employment.

2. We should respect cultural diversity and the sovereign rights of all countries to choose their own development paths. We should seek consensus and put aside our differences in a spirit of inclusion, and seek development in a spirit of harmony and cooperation. These should be our shared cultural and development concepts.We should fully respect the special situations of all countries and the different stages of development, and rise above the differences in our social systems and ideologies and prejudices, in order to promote harmonious relationships between countries of different cultures and systems and our common development. We should also advocate the integration of cultural innovation and the transformation of development models, so as to promote a social culture that encourages innovation and tolerates failure, and enhance the quality and efficiency of development.

3. We should promote cooperation in STI and technology transfer. Science and technology can serve as an important pillar in our efforts to achieve MDGs. All countries should attach importance to sharing best practices in STI policies, as well as technology and knowledge transfer, so as to further encourage the establishment of more cooperative models of innovation. We should expand South- South cooperation and promote inclusive North-South partnership. The developed countries should, as soon as possible, eliminate various obstacles to international technology transfer, strengthen North-South cooperation in technological innovation, and speed up technology transfer to developing countries.

4.We should attach importance to building STI structures in each of our countries. The sustainable development of developing countries cannot be achieved without the support of the international community. But fundamentally speaking, we should beef up our own structures. In light of the special situations of our countries, we should actively build sound structures for STI, and for their demonstration, dissemination and application. We should learn from international experiences in STI management, and the integration of the economy and science and technology. The international community, and the developed countries in particular, should regard the promotion of building STI structures in developing countries as an important part of their multilateral cooperation in science and technology with developing countries.

Mr. President,

The Chinese government has continuously promoted innovative development ideas. We have included the sustainable development strategy, the strategies of reinvigorating China through science and education and strengthening the nation through human resources development into our basic national development strategy. In light of the MDG goals, we have reinforced our efforts in scientific and technological innovation as well as its demonstration and application. We have actively carried out initiatives of poverty alleviation through science and technology. Our culture is developing in parallel with the cultural industry. We have completed the public cultural service structure covering both urban and rural areas. Our cultural industry has become a new sector of economic growth. The Chinese Communist Party held its 18th national congress last year, which clear provided for the overall plan for promoting economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological progress.

China will actively provide support and assistance to developing countries in their efforts to achieve MDG goals in the framework of South-South cooperation. By the end of 2010, China had trained 130,000 managerial and technical professionals from developing countries. We have also provided equipment for disaster prevention and relief to more than 70 countries. At the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, China proposed various initiatives, including helping developing countries train technical professionals for ecological preservation and desertification control, providing relevant countries with scientific equipment and facilities, and building a global network for technological cooperation based on the experience gained from the pilot programs in various countries to promote best practices of sustainable development at the sub-national level.

China is willing to join the efforts of the international community and make due contributions to achieving sustainable development goals and MDGs, and to eliminating poverty.